Gawayn
Animated quest to restore a shrunken princess in Camelot.
Gawayn is an animated television series created and designed by Jan Van Rijsselberge. Produced by Alphanim—known as Gaumont-Alphanim during its first season—the show takes its name from King Arthur’s nephew, Gawain. It also aired on the Starz Kids & Family cable network.
The story begins in the mystical city of Camelot, where William, an optimistic knight-in-training, serves as squire to his mentor, the gleaming knight Sir Roderick. Trouble starts when the evil Duke of Amaraxos shrinks Princess Gwendolyn and seizes the kingdom. William, Sir Roderick, William’s older sister Elspeth (an apprentice sorceress), and Xiao Long (a young sage-in-training from distant Asia) set out on a quest to find the Crystal of Gawayn and undo the curse.
In the second season, the group finally obtains the Crystal, intending to restore Princess Gwendolyn to her normal size. But Sir Roderick’s impatience and clumsiness interrupt the process, leaving Gwen’s size unstable. Worse, his bumbling shatters the Crystal, and the Great Book of Magic flies away after the failed spell. The team returns to life on the road, aiming to reclaim the book and find a way to repair the Crystal, finally ending the princess’s curse for good.
The main characters include William (voiced by Barbara Weber-Scaff in season 1 and Sonja Ball in season 2), an 11-year-old inventor and the brain of the group; Sir Roderick (voiced by David Gasman in season 1 and Bruce Dinsmore in season 2), a clumsy knight and Princess Gwen’s boyfriend; Princess Gwendolyn (voiced by Sharon Mann in season 1 and Claudia Besso in season 2), reduced to doll size but still capable in a fight, whose size now fluctuates with her emotions; Elspeth (voiced by Hester Wilcox in season 1 and Emma Taylor-Isherwood in season 2), a redheaded apprentice magician who wields the Great Book of Magic; Xiao Long (voiced by Lucinda Davis), a 10-year-old Chinese martial arts expert and sage-in-training; the Duke (voiced by David Gasman in season 1 and Rick Jones in season 2), the villain who shrank Gwendolyn and watches the team through a viewing stone; and Rex (voiced by Christian Erickson in season 1 and Richard Dumont in season 2), the Duke’s cockroach friend and pet.
The series was originally announced under the title “The Questers” in 2007. The first season consists of 52 13-minute episodes, produced by Alphanim and Mondo TV France. A second sea
- Creator
- Jan Van Rijsselberge
- Production Companies
- Alphanim (Gaumont-Alphanim for season 1), Mondo TV France
- Original Title
- The Questers (announced 2007)
- Seasons
- 2
- Episode Length
- 13 minutes
- Network
- Starz Kids & Family
- Genre
- Animated television series
Lore & Background
The series centers on William, an 11-year-old optimistic knight-in-training who lives in Camelot and is devoted to his mentor, the clumsy knight Sir Roderick. When the evil Duke of Amaraxos shrinks Princess Gwendolyn and usurps the kingdom, William, Sir Roderick, William's sister Elspeth (an apprentice sorceress), and Xiao Long (a young sage-in-training from Asia) set off to find the Crystal of Gawayn and undo the curse. In season 2, the group obtains the Crystal, but Sir Roderick's impatience and clumsiness cause the restoration spell to fail, leaving Gwendolyn's size unstable and shattering the Crystal. The Great Book of Magic flies away, and the Questers must reclaim it to repair the Crystal and permanently end the curse.
Reader's Guide
Gawayn represents a European co-production in children's animation, blending Arthurian legend with fantasy adventure and a multicultural cast. The show's premise—a shrunken princess and a bumbling knight—provides comedic and episodic storytelling across 52 episodes per season. Its significance lies in its international broadcast reach, including on the Starz Kids & Family cable network, and its production by Alphanim, a notable French animation studio. The series also features voice actor changes between seasons for several main characters, reflecting common production shifts. While not a major cultural phenomenon, Gawayn contributes to the tradition of animated adaptations of Arthurian lore aimed at young audiences.
Did You Know?
- The series was originally announced under the title 'The Questers' in 2007.
- The title refers to King Arthur's nephew Gawain.
- Princess Gwendolyn's size changes depending on her emotions in season 2.
- Xiao Long's grandfather's ghost provides clues in the second season.
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